Vocal Pedagogy

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Program

Your Training

The Vocal Pedagogy program is designed for a limited number of majors at the graduate level. The sequence of specialized courses and small class size offer opportunities for hands on anatomical experiences and extensive one-on-one interaction with the Boston Conservatory faculty and Massachusetts General Hospital voice specialists and doctors. The small class size creates a space for sharing and exploring teaching techniques and repertoire ideas with colleagues, other students in the program and teachers throughout the faculty. "The science, the experience and teachers in this department are world-class, and this program is trailblazing the next generation of successful vocal pedagogues. If you are serious about gaining real-world information with real-world application, this is your program."—Taylor Stilson (B.M. '15, Voice; M.M. '11, Vocal Pedagogy)

This program provides the foundation for development of an analytic and discerning ear toward the diagnosis of vocal issues in the teaching studio. Graduates of the program will have explored a range of vocal teaching techniques, they will better understand the role of rehabilitation and the relationship between voice teacher and voice therapist, and they will have developed an understanding of appropriate repertoire for the teaching studio as well as having created their own personal library of teaching repertoire.

Curriculum

Apply NowThe core of the program is a four-semester sequence of courses in topics of vocal pedagogy culminating in a year of teaching practicum, the development of a written personal teaching philosophy, and the capstone project – a lecture recital. Students of the program will also gain exposure to the most recent research and technologies in vocal development, health, and rehabilitation through The Boston Conservatory’s special affiliation with Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). Throughout their program each student will make clinical site visits to the Voice Center at MGH, where they will have opportunities to see a variety of medical procedures ranging from laryngeal scoping to video of surgeries specific to speech and singing.

Pedagogy students receive private voice instruction for four semesters with a member of the voice faculty. The jury standards and outcomes for these lessons are the same as for those students enrolled in the Voice Performance degree program. The final lecture recital is on a topic determined and developed by the student, their applied instructor and the Director of Vocal Pedagogy. The course Repertoire for the Teaching Studio addresses repertoire as it pertains to specific vocal problems, pedagogical goals, and individual vocal development. Pedagogy students are exposed to both classical and music theater repertoire through repertoire and diction courses as well as through required attendance at the many vocal studio and solo recitals on the Boston Conservatory performance calendar.

Opera and Vocal Studies:

Your Department

Average number of Vocal Pedagogy students: 10

Your Opportunities

Featuring the same rigorous traning as voice performance majors—with the addition of pedagogy-specific coursework in anatomy, physiology, history and comparative pedagogy—our Vocal Pedagogy program gives you the voice expertise to teach your own students health performance habits for a range of musical settings, while at the same time providing you with the skills you'll need for work on the operativ and concert stage. The program trains you to:

Effectively teach—from a solid pedagogical, anatomical, scientific foundation—students who are singing classical or music theater repertoire

Pursue independent research into evolving pedagogical theory and vocal rehabilitation techniques to stay current and informed

Secure employment as voice professionals

Understand the role fo a speech language pathologist and what resources are available in terms of therapies and rehabilitative processes

Write a personal teaching philosophy and professional curriculum vitae

Application and Audition Requirements

Application to the MM Vocal Pedagogy degree program mirrors that for MM Vocal Performance with the addition of an interview with Director of the Vocal Pedagogy program and Chair of Voice and Opera. Basic requirements include a bachelor’s degree and an educational background in voice and performance. Candidates may self-identify as classical singers or music theater singers. Click here for complete list of requirements.

There is a pre-screening requirement for all applicants to the Vocal Pedagogy degree program. All applicants must be prepared to perform the following repertoire for their audition:

An Italian art song

An art song in either French or German

An art song in English (not a translation)

Optional: an aria from an opera or oratorio

Optional: a popular song or a song from a musical theater show

Outcome Proficiencies

A student graduating from this program should have attained a vocal technique and performance capabilities at a level consistent with his or her peers in the Vocal Performance degree. He or she should have the following skills and abilities:

An understanding and mastery of vocal/physical anatomy and vocal technical issues such that an accurate diagnosis and pedagogical plan can be put in place for each individual student.

The ability to teach students in the classical or musical theater repertoires and address the specific issues of those two productions armed with factual anatomical and scientific information.

An understanding of the role of the vocal therapist, how to use the therapist as a resource and understand what is available in terms of therapies and rehabilitative processes.

Knowledge of the resources necessary to pursue independent research into evolving pedagogical theory and vocal rehabilitation techniques throughout the teaching career.

The ability to teach – from a solid pedagogical, anatomical, scientific foundation – students who are singing classical or music theater repertoire.

A written personal teaching philosophy.

Your Future

Students of our Vocal Pedagogy program have brought their expertise to music programs through numerous fellowships and faculty appointments.